Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, June 21.
Welsh regions to discover opponents today
Wales' four regions will today learn who their European pool-stage opponents are for next season.
The pool draws for the 2023/24 Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournaments will be staged at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and will be streamed on EPCRugby.TV.
Cardiff will return to the top tier of European rugby after winning the Welsh Shield in the United Rugby Championship last season, and are set to face two English and two French clubs.
The Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons will compete in the Challenge Cup.
The event is set to start from 12.30pm UK time with the Challenge Cup pools draw, followed by the Champions Cup pools draw around 20 minutes later. Viewers will be able to create a free account on EPCRugby.TV to watch the draws which will be presented by BT Sport's Sarra Elgan and beIN SPORT's Vincent Pochulu.
Wales welcome Morgan into camp
Wales welcomed terminally ill three-year-old Morgan Ridler and his family into their World Cup training camp on Tuesday.
His family were given the heartbreaking news last week that Morgan's treatment for cancer is not working, with his quality of life now becoming the priority. More than £20,000 has been raised via an online crowdfunding page to help the Swansea family - Morgan, his little sister Rhiannon and parents Natalia and Matthew - create special memories together. You can find out more and donate here.
The little boy, whose auntie Natalia John plays for Wales Women, is the inspiration behind Morgan's Army Charitable Foundation.
The WRU tweeted a photo of Morgan surrounded by almost 20 Wales squad members, including George North, Dan Lydiate, Gareth Anscombe and Louis Rees-Zammit. The union said: "Lovely to have Morgan at training this morning".
Kolisi confident of World Cup fitness
South Africa World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi has issued a personal fitness update following his knee surgery at the end of April, and says he is targeting a World Cup warm-up for his return to the pitch.
After the Rugby Championship in July, the Springboks face Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 5, then head to Cardiff to face Wales on August 19 before rounding off their World Cup preparations against the All Blacks on August 25 at Twickenham.
“I’m feeling good, and my rehabilitation is going well,” Kolisi told a press conference. “I’ve been working hard to recover as well as possible, and it’s great to be able to do so in the team environment. Some of the players have been helping me as well, so I’m taking things day-by-day.
“Obviously, it’s not a great feeling to be injured, but I’ve been here before and it’s nice to have the support of the coaches and players, as well as the medical and conditioning team, who have been fantastic. I’m progressing each week and I’ve steadily been able to do new things, so I’m confident with how things are going. Hopefully I’ll be able to play in one or two of the Rugby World Cup warm-up games.”
Lions deal extended
Canterbury have extended its partnership with the British and Irish Lions and will be the official partner and exclusive kit supplier for the 2025 tour to Australia.
The Lions partnered with the sports brand for both the 2017 tour to New Zealand and the 2021 series in South Africa.
Ben Calveley, CEO of the British and Irish Lions, said: “Canterbury has been a fantastic partner to the British and Irish Lions for many years, and we are thrilled to continue our successful partnership for the 2025 tour to Australia. Anticipation is building ahead of the tour in 2025, and we believe it has the potential to be the greatest Lions tour ever.”
Simon Rowe, vice president of global sports marketing at Pentland Brands, said: “This extended partnership is a testament to our longstanding collaboration and shared commitment to investing in, and celebrating, the incredible sport of rugby. Together, we will create a groundbreaking kit that reflects the spirit of the Lions and pushes the sport into a new era of Lions fan. Our focus extends beyond the field, as we aim to expand the appeal of rugby to new consumers and ignite their passion for the sport.”
